Knoxville Radio: Cumulus' WIVK Responds To Wildfires

Cumulus Media-Knoxville Country station WIVK 107.7 FM stepped up in a big way to keep the community informed with outstanding news coverage and community response, outreach and collaboration, raising resources and delivering aid to the community during the wildfires in Gatlinburg throughout the day and into the evening on Monday, December 28, and on Tuesday, December 29.  The wildfires have resulted in at least three deaths.

WIVK was the only broadcast media outlet in Knoxville that stayed on air and provided coverage and information for evacuees and relief efforts all night long. The coverage extended to social media with an emphasis on connecting family and friends who'd been separated. The station aired reports from onsite in Sevier County with TV partner WVLT until 3am. Afterward, WIVK station staff fielded and aired calls from people who were worried that by daybreak, their homes wouldn't be standing.

WIVK staffers spent the night talking to people who were terrified and had been stuck in traffic; people who had driven through areas that they could only describe as being "like a war zone".

The station also took calls from people with boots on the ground who were providing rescue services, including local taxi companies that were giving people free rides to shelter areas and delivering supplies. Other calls came in from people who owned homes or had friends in the area who were checking up on the fire status and appreciative of the station's coverage.

There was no national television coverage of the fire, so WIVK took calls throughout the night from people across the U.S. seeking information. WIVK on-air staff aired call after call Monday into Tuesday, with news updates from Sean McNally and Dave Jeffries starting around 7pm Monday night, supported by Jimmy Holt from WIVK's morning show and Nikki Thomas, who fielded questions throughout the night on-air and on social media. Jimmy Holt and Alison Mencer picked up that task Tuesday morning beginning at 6:30am.

(Left to Right) WIVK’s Jimmy Holt (Costa hat), Big Loud recording artist Morgan Wallen (US flag hat) and band member Cody Wood (BMI hat).

Yesterday (Tuesday), WIVK aired heavy news coverage and went out into the community with a local grocery chain (Food City) and a local car dealer (Ted Russell Ford) to collect non-perishable food items, water, pet food, etc. for those affected by the fires.

Ted Russell provided trucks to carry supplies and WIVK brought in a tractor trailer and all station vehicles for transport. We have extended our efforts into other Cumulus stations in our region. WIVK's web guy set up donor pages with information for sister stations who wanted to help.

The station also worked to connect pet owners with places to keep their animals - both large and small, and collected pet food and crates for animals. The station provided updates on the Aquarium that houses more than 10,500 fish and animals that were left behind. Thankfully, those fish and animals are safe.

Arista Nashville recording artist, Seth Ennis’ Instragram repost of and comment on Morgan’s previous post

The country music community was in full force, calling in to WIVK to ask how they could help with the relief effort. Chris Janson was the first to reach out, followed by Hunter Hayes and many other artists, labels and management companies checking in throughout the day Tuesday. Big Loud artist and Knoxville native Morgan Wallen was in town visiting family and contacted WIVK and asked how he could help. He came in and helped Gunner with on-air information and updates, and helped Jimmy Holt and the rest of the staff load trucks with supplies to take to the affected areas.

WIVK 107.7 FM (91 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Dolly Parton's theme park, Dollywood, which partners with WIVK on many efforts that are beneficial to the community, was a huge concern and was thankfully spared. Virtually every other call into WIVK was from someone asking if Dollywood was O.K.  and if the bald eagles were safe inside the park.